Does Indestructible Stop Lifelink? A Comprehensive MTG Guide
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No, indestructible does NOT stop lifelink. Lifelink is triggered by damage being dealt by a creature with lifelink. Indestructible only prevents damage from causing a creature to be destroyed. The damage still happens, triggering the lifelink ability and causing you to gain life.
Understanding the Interaction: Indestructible and Lifelink
The key to understanding this interaction lies in distinguishing what indestructible actually does. It doesn’t prevent damage. Instead, it prevents damage, or certain “destroy” effects, from resulting in the destruction of the permanent.
Consider this scenario: You attack with a 4/4 creature with indestructible and lifelink into a 2/2 creature. Your 4/4 will deal 4 damage to the 2/2 (likely destroying it), and your 4/4 will survive unscathed, thanks to indestructible. Crucially, because your creature dealt 4 damage, you will gain 4 life due to lifelink. The fact that the 2/2 creature might or might not die is irrelevant to the lifelink trigger. Damage was dealt, therefore life is gained.
Key MTG Rules to Remember
- 702.12a Indestructible is a static ability. This means it’s always “on” and applies continuously.
- 702.12b A permanent with indestructible can’t be destroyed. It ignores the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (704.5g).
- 702.15a Lifelink is a static ability. Damage dealt by a source with lifelink causes the source’s controller to gain that much life.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
A frequent point of confusion stems from thinking indestructible somehow negates damage. It doesn’t. It simply ignores the consequences that damage would normally have on a permanent (specifically, destruction). This distinction is vital for correctly understanding interactions with other abilities like lifelink, wither, and infect. Remember, damage is still dealt, even if that damage doesn’t destroy the indestructible permanent.
FAQs: Indestructible and Other Interactions
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify how indestructible interacts with other mechanics in Magic: The Gathering:
Q1: Does indestructible stop damage?
No. Indestructible doesn’t prevent damage. It only prevents damage from causing a creature to be destroyed. The damage still occurs, which is essential for abilities like lifelink, wither, and infect to function.
Q2: Can deathtouch kill indestructible?
No. Indestructible creatures are immune to deathtouch. Deathtouch normally destroys a creature that has been dealt damage by a creature with deathtouch, but indestructible prevents this destruction.
Q3: Does indestructible protect against exile effects?
No. Exile effects completely bypass indestructible. Indestructible only protects against destruction, not being exiled. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile will remove an indestructible creature from the game.
Q4: Does indestructible work against sacrifice effects?
No. Indestructible does not prevent you from sacrificing a permanent. Sacrificing a permanent is a different action than destroying it. Effects that force you to sacrifice permanents, such as Diabolic Edict, will still work on indestructible creatures.
Q5: What about -1/-1 counters? Can they kill an indestructible creature?
Yes. While indestructible prevents destruction from damage, it doesn’t prevent a creature’s toughness from being reduced to 0 or less. If a creature with indestructible receives enough -1/-1 counters to reduce its toughness to 0 or less, it will still die as a state-based action, even though the -1/-1 counters themselves aren’t destroying the creature.
Q6: Does trample go through an indestructible blocker?
Yes. When a creature with trample attacks into an indestructible blocker, the attacking player still assigns enough damage to the blocker to equal its toughness. Excess damage is then dealt to the defending player or planeswalker. The indestructible creature survives, but the trample damage still goes through.
Q7: Does a board wipe that says “destroy all creatures” affect indestructible creatures?
No. A board wipe that specifically uses the word “destroy,” such as Wrath of God, will not affect indestructible creatures. They simply ignore the destruction effect.
Q8: How does indestructible interact with planeswalkers?
An indestructible planeswalker would survive a “destroy target planeswalker” effect. However, damage dealt to a planeswalker still results in the removal of loyalty counters, even if the planeswalker is indestructible. Indestructible does not prevent the loss of loyalty.
Q9: Can you counter a creature with indestructible?
Yes. Countering a spell prevents the creature with indestructible from ever entering the battlefield. Counterspells are a great way to deal with indestructible threats before they become a problem.
Q10: Is hexproof or indestructible better?
It depends on the situation. Hexproof protects against targeted spells and abilities controlled by opponents, while indestructible protects against destruction effects and lethal damage. Hexproof is vulnerable to board wipes that don’t target, while indestructible is vulnerable to exile and sacrifice.
Q11: Does infect kill indestructible creatures?
Yes. Infect deals damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. As mentioned previously, enough -1/-1 counters will reduce a creature’s toughness to 0, causing it to die as a state-based action, even if it’s indestructible.
Q12: Does indestructible stop effects that give -X/-X to creatures?
Yes, indestructible is not affected by “-X/-X.” However, if the effect reduces a creature to less than zero, it will die. It is not indestructible that kills it but rather the rules of MTG.
Q13: What’s the difference between indestructible and hexproof?
Hexproof prevents a permanent from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Indestructible prevents a permanent from being destroyed by damage or destroy effects. They protect against different things.
Q14: Can you enchant an indestructible creature with an Aura controlled by an opponent?
Yes. Indestructible does not prevent an opponent from enchanting your creature with an Aura they control.
Q15: Where can I learn more about the rules of Magic: The Gathering?
The Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules document is the ultimate source of truth. You can also find helpful resources and communities online, including educational initiatives and groups like the Games Learning Society, which explores how games can be used for learning and engagement. Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion
While indestructible is a powerful ability, it’s crucial to understand its limitations. It doesn’t make a creature invulnerable, and it certainly doesn’t negate damage. Lifelink, which triggers off damage dealt, functions perfectly well with indestructible, granting you life as your indestructible creatures dish out damage. Understanding these nuances is essential to mastering Magic: The Gathering and making informed decisions during gameplay.